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Literature, PoetryJanuary 4, 2015

New Year’s Resolutions

Days in a Calendar by Rabeya Jalil. Courtesy: ArtChowk Gallery.

Days in a Calendar by Rabeya Jalil. Courtesy: ArtChowk Gallery.

Nytårsforsætter

Velkommen nytår
lige hvad vi behøver
den går ikke længre på den gamle manér
jeg vil gerne gøre mit til
og andres til
at højne hinanden
Jeg lover at gøre mit bedste
ikke gøre visse ting for tit
og iøvrigt ikke gå for vidt
gøre hvad jeg kan for ikke at smaske
           svede
           glemme
           fare op
           ikke blande mig i alt for meget
men dog ha begge hænder
i hanke med adskilligt
daglig virke lindrende
huske at hilse
jævnligt skrive under på det gode
           komme plaster på det onde
           vinke til det gamle
           gå ind for det nye
           gøre det ene
           holde op med det andet
for en tid
jovist kan det nytte
hvis bare man vender blikket indad
samt udad
luger ud i sit privatliv
såvel som i Congo
indser sine fejl
som man indser de andres
griber denne lejlighed
til at gribe ind
           med beslutninger
           forsætter
           afkald
det er jo kun nytår én gang om året
og sku man få tilbagefald
(man er dog kun menneske
og året er så langt
verden så stor
og fremtiden så uvis)
behøver løfter ikke betyde en døjt
hvis man ikke sir dem højt.

 ~ Benny Andersen

New Year’s Resolutions

Welcome new year
just what we need
the old way’s not good enough anymore
I’d like to do my part
and other people’s part
to uplift one another
I promise to try my best
not to do certain things too often
and besides not to go too far
make an effort not to chew loudly
           sweat
           forget
           lose my temper
           not to meddle too much
but still to engage both hands
in boosting up plenty
to be soothing daily
remember to say hello
frequently put my signature on the good
           put band-aids on the bad
           wave to the old
           embrace the new
           do one thing
           stop doing the other
for a while
sure it can help
if you just turn your attention inward
as well as outward
pull weeds in your private life
as well as in the Congo
recognize your mistakes
like you recognize those of others
seize this opportunity
to make inroads
           with decisions
           resolutions
           renunciations
you know it’s only new year’s once a year
and if you should have relapses
(we are only human
and the year is so long
the world so large
and the future so uncertain)
it won’t matter that your vows were not obeyed
if you don’t tell anyone they were made.

~ trans. Michael Goldman

Benny Andersen is the foremost living poet and lyricist in Denmark. First published in 1960, he has produced 21 volumes of poetry along with numerous records, stories, screenplays and children’s books. Now 85, he continues to write and to perform to sold-out audiences in Denmark. He lives near Copenhagen.

Michael Goldman taught himself Danish over 25 years ago to help him win the heart of a lovely Danish girl—and they have been married ever since. Since leaving his career as a remodeling contractor two years ago, his translations have appeared in 16 literary journals. He is also a jazz clarinetist. Michael Goldman lives in Florence, Mass.

Tags

Benny AndersenDanishMichael GoldmanNew YearpoetryRabeya Jaliltranslationsweekend poem

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One last love letter...

April 24, 2021

It has taken us some time and patience to come to this decision. TMS would not have seen the success that it did without our readers and the tireless team that ran the magazine for the better part of eight years.

But… all good things must come to an end, especially when we look at the ever-expanding art and literary landscape in Pakistan, the country of the magazine’s birth.

We are amazed and proud of what the next generation of creators are working with, the themes they are featuring, and their inclusivity in the diversity of voices they are publishing. When TMS began, this was the world we envisioned…

Though the magazine has closed and our submissions shuttered, this website will remain open for the foreseeable future as an archive of the great work we published and the astounding collection of diverse voices we were privileged to feature.

If, however, someone is interested in picking up the baton, please email Maryam Piracha, the editor, at maryamp@themissingslate.com.

Farewell, fam! It’s been quite a ride.

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